All Saints' Church Hertford

For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 4, 8

Each year, the Team Rector, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council of All Saints' Church. Hertford welcomes to the church newly elected mayors, members of the County, District and Town Councils, representatives of the armed forces, school children, and many others both in sorrow and joy.

The memorials in the church have been a focus for prayer for peace, and for solemn remembrance since the church was consecrated in 1895.

Remembrance is both powerful and important and is marked with due solemnity every November. We stand at the Regimental Memorial; a wreath is laid; and we pray for all countries and their governments, for their armed forces and for the peace of the world.

Act of Remembrance

As we were unable to hold the usual Town-wide Act of Remembrance in Parliament Square in 2020, Rev Doug made a film in All Saints with Rev Jo and Colonel Keith Cockman OBE plus specially made recordings by members of All Saints Choir. This is designed to be viewed at 10.57 so that the silence is at 11.00, but can be viewed at any time on a Youtube video . It will remain available to be used when convenient.

Memories

We have pulled together some memories from members of our congregation and Hazel and David Ford have recorded a number of warTime favourites for you to sing/hum along to.

D Day Mollie Day recalls the involvement of Bob Palmer, her older brother. First published October 2004, during the 60th anniversary year.

Barnes Wallis John and Fiona Earle wrote about the inventor of the 'bouncing bomb' in our September 2005 magazine.

National Day of Prayer Ann-Marie Parker recalls the events of 24th May 1940. First published November 2017.

Memories from Childhood Ann-Marie Parker recounts her wartime experinces here in Hertford.

Memories of VE Day in London Mollie Day was taken to London and she shares her memories of her visit.

VE Day in Hertford Teddie Johnson recalls VE Day in Hertford.

VE Day in West Yorkshire Jean Lord recalls the celebrations in West Yorkshire, where she was working as a nurse in a Children's Isolation Hospital.

Recital of WW2 songs with Hazel & David Ford.

Commonwealth Wargraves Commision's entry for All Saints Churchyard. .

If you have something to contribute please email us.

Memorials

All Saints Church, Hertford contains a magnificent memorial to the dead of the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment in the First and Second World Wars. This was especially cleaned in the summer of 2014. Our thanks to all who contributed to its cost. there is a full transcription of the WW2 entries here.

There are also separate memorials to the dead of the parish in the Memorial Chapel at the east end of the church.

There are also a number of soldiers buried in the churchyard. The information sheet on them includes photographs of the graves and short biographies.

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